Russia’s government has advised Russian citizens and residents against traveling to the United States, the United Kingdom and EU states, warning that they may be at risk of being “hunted” by the American, British and European authorities.
During a news briefing, a spokeswoman for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasized that Russian nationals could find themselves in serious trouble while traveling in the West.
“In the context of the increasing confrontation in Russian-American relations, which are teetering on the verge of rupture due to the fault of Washington, trips to the United States of America privately or out of official necessity are fraught with serious risks,” she said.
Russian national should also avoid traveling to Canada and to US ‘allied satellite states’ in the European Union, the spokeswoman added.
Recently, both Russia and the United States have exchanged the accusations that US nationals are being arrested based on unfounded charges while traveling in Russia and vice versa.
According to the diplomats from both Russia and the United States, the relationship between the two nations is at its lowest point since the 1962 Cuban missile crisis, primarily as a result of Russia’s continued military aggression in Ukraine.
The United States government had also warned its citizens against traveling to Russia, indicating that they may encounter harassment or detention by Russian security personnel, as well as the arbitrary application of local laws based on their nationality.
According to the United States Embassy in Moscow, it no longer offers non-diplomatic visa services due to the Russian government prohibiting the Embassy from employing foreign nationals in any capacity. Russian nationals may continue applying for nonimmigrant visas at any US embassy or consulate where they can obtain an appointment.
Due to the suspension of immigrant visa services at the US Embassy in Moscow, the US Department of State has designated the US Embassy in Warsaw to process immigrant visas for residents of Russia. The US Department of State also added US Embassy Tashkent and US Consulate General Almaty as processing posts for Russian IR-5 (parent of a US citizen) immigrant visa applicants.
We are not processing boarding foils at this time.
“We regret that the actions of the Russian government have made it impossible for our office to continue offering non-diplomatic visa services in Russia. All consular services at the U.S. Consulates in Yekaterinburg and Vladivostok remain in suspended status.” US Embassy added.
The United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has also advised UK nationals against all travel to Russia due to the risks and threats from its continuing invasion of Ukraine, including:
- security incidents, such as drone attacks, in parts of the country
- lack of flights to return to the UK
- limited ability for the UK government to provide support
There is also a high likelihood terrorists will try to carry out attacks, including in major cities.
UK nationals have also been warned of limited UK government support:
“The British Embassy in Moscow and British Consulate in Ekaterinburg are open, but the situation could change at short notice. In-person UK government support in Russia is limited. It is very limited in parts of Russia because of the security situation and the size of the country, particularly in the North Caucasus.”